Kayak Marcilhac to Cabrarets

[Leigh Lorayne]

Yesterday I kayaked from Marcilhac-Sur-CELE to Cabrarets. A great day! The river is higher right now but perfect for me. There are quite a few rapids but easily navigable with high water. There was one intimidating that I mentioned to the owner. It is soon after the straight metal bridge ( versus the stone arched ones ). The rock shelf across the river creates a straight drop of about 2+ feet. Too dangerous to take straight on. I made a choice to keep shore left heading for an exposed part of the rock shelf. I dragged the kayak over into a small inlet. Water in front was eddying but I pulled through it and voila! The right shore side looked like a choice but the owner nixed that so I was glad of the choice I made. He said in lower water this rapid is not a problem. After that is another significant rapid but no drops! Fun to navigate. Again I kept left but just skirted by a big rock that would be visible in lower water. For those two rapids I thought for a moment I was on a different river! Because the river is quite tranquil. I easily portaged over two of the three chutes, but decided to run the last one at Cabrarets knowing I could be rescued! It was fun! I did get wet so I was glad I didn’t do the others as I would have been cold for much of the day. The scenery is more spectacular after the metal bridge- canoeing past high rock cliffs that come down to the water. Once canoeing under rock overhang with water dripping like rain. The views of the buildings high up in the cliff and seeing Cabrarets from the water. My telephone died so I have none if that. Heads up if you get overzealous with pictures too early! The kayak is very stable and the dry barrel protects any valuables. Lionel transports your pack to pick up site. A really fun experience and a rest for the feet. The company is Passion Aventures.

 

[Cleenjones]

What a wonderful addition to your Camino! I have kyaked on a lake, but never on a river with rapids!! Do you think this is something a flat water kayaker could navigate ? I’d love to add this to my Sept Camino

Many thanks! And Buen Camino!

 

[Leigh Lorayne]

Yes, because that is me! I have kayaked on a lake but not a river. It was 20 km and I wasn’t sure if that would be too long but it wasn’t, perhaps because I had help from the current. I don’t know about the water level in Sept. You could discuss with the owner. It was a fun experience. Glad I did it. I hope it works for you.